Estee Lauder Spring 2011 Collection: Wild Violet

Pure energy that pulsates sultry sophistication is the inspiration behind the new vision in color by Estée Lauder Creative Makeup Director Tom Pecheux for Spring 2011. The Wild Violet Pure Color Makeup Collection is a dynamic collection of high-performance makeup and fragrance products to highlight the spring season with a burst of enthusiastic color.

In this intensely vivacious collection, lips delight in shades of electric orange, brazen cherry and violet plum, eyes are smoldering in muted neutrals with wisps of purple for maximum depth and attention while nails are rich and smokey in a modern charcoal. Adding to the collection, a vivid, lush fragrance that has a first impression of Genet Flower, Mandarin, Purple Freesia, Blue Jasmine and Wild Gardenia to create a lively experience and then Amberwood is blended in to complete scent with an energetic, multi-sensorial vibrancy.

Pure Color Lip Gelee ($20.00) (Limited Edition)

Electric Cherry Blazing red

Electric Violet Fuchsia violet

Electric Coral Fresh coral

Electric Pink Brilliant pink

Pure Color Long Lasting Lipstick ($24.00) (Limited Edition)

Wild Fire

Wild Blossom

Wild Coral

Wild Violet

Pure Color Five Color Eyeshadow Palette ($42.00) (Limited Edition)

Wild Violet Mix of warm, smokey ember and neutral shades with a powerful, shimmering deep plum at the center

Pure Color Eyeshadow ($20.00) (Limited Edition)

Untamed Violet

Sugar Cube

Double Wear Stay-in-Place Eye Pencil ($19.00) (Limited Edition)

Untamed Violet Effervescent purple

Pure Color Nail Lacquer ($19.00) (Limited Edition)

Storm Charcoal grey

Wild Elixir Fragrance ($55.00 for 1.7 oz.) (Limited Edition)

Compliment the look with a feeling of pure energy radiating from luminous Genet Flower, invigorating Mandarin and smooth woods blended in the new, limited edition Estée Lauder Wild Elixir fragrance. An expressive, sophisticated floral texture evolves into a dry down of soft woods and lingers sensuously on the skin for an utterly dramatic appeal.

Bronze Goddess was definitely one of the first summer-esque collections to release (with Guerlain’s Terracotta right on its heels!). Each year, Estee Lauder launches Bronze Goddess and while there are certainly near-staple products released (bronzers and the like), they also create a makeup collection around the theme.

This year includes Exotic Bronzing Blush ($35, reviewing later!), Wild Orchid Pure Color Nail Lacquer ($18), Wild Coral / Wild Orchid Exotic Lip Gloss ($18), Luminous Liquid Bronzer ($28.50), and Liquid Eyeshadow ($17.50). Of course, all of those products listed above are, the ever-dreaded, limited edition. I am/was most excited for the Liquid Eyeshadows, because I was very curious to see Estee Lauder do some COLOR!

Liquid Eyeshadow ($17.50)

Aqua Flash is a shimmering aqua-blue. It’s like tropical island ocean blue–not quite blue, but not a true aqua, either. Yes, take me away to paradise, Estee Lauder… who knew!

Ultra Violet is a shimmering, near metallic violet purple with red shimmer and undertones.

The good: Estee Lauder described the new Liquid Eyeshadow as a “[f]eatherweight liquid shadow [that] delivers maximum metallic impact in one stroke.” Count me among the skeptical when it comes to Estee Lauder and vibrant pops of color–but I am always happy to be wrong on this kind of thing! These are surprisingly true-to-color and quite pigmented.

They can be layered for complete opaque intensity or sheered out by blending with either your finger or a brush (try something fluffy with synthetic bristles) for more of a wash (Sand Shimmer works particularly well for a quick one-color-and-you’re-done kind of look). One stroke is pigmented, but to blend it out and cover the lid, you may find that layering works better to obtain truly opaque color–I personally like that you can sheer it out as it makes it a more versatile product, particularly when using it as an eyeshadow base.

No budging, fading, or creasing when I wore Aqua Flash on one eye and Sand Shimmer on the other. (It was a totally happening look, no joke!) They wear well and look stunning. I find I can apply and blend shadows on top and use these as bases, too–because I am incapable of wearing just one product on my eyes… You can also take an angled eyeliner brush and swipe it across the doe-foot applicator to use the color as an eyeliner!

The packaging is simple: clear tube with a “gold” metal cap with “Bronze Goddess” emblazoned across the tube in gold. The pricing is right on target, if almost on the lower end of what I’d expect.

The bad: I really can’t think of anything bad to say about these. More colors? Make them permanent? They meet every expectation I have in a good liquid eyeshadow: blendable, creamy, crease-resistant, long-wearing, and pigmented. I suppose if we’re being nit-picky, perhaps the shimmer/metallic finish of these is not universally appealing, but they’re supposed to be that way, so… not a true negative but a preference!

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Product: 29/30

Value: 9/10

Ease of Use: 4/5

Packaging: 4/5

Recommendation: Those who love their metallics and shimmers in vibrant colors may need to take a little detour at their local Estee Lauder counter. Rich colors done well that wear as well as they look make it easy to recommend these if you’re on the hunt for something fun for summer. My favorite shade would be Aqua Flash, but I think the most wearable shade is Sand Shimmer.